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Misawa Y, Misawa K, Kawasaki H, Imai A, Mochizuki D, Ishikawa R, Endo S, Mima M, Kanazawa T, Iwashita T, Mineta H. Evaluation of epigenetic inactivation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317711657. [PMID: 28718364 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317711657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the methylation status of the genes encoding the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and to evaluate the usefulness of VEGFR methylation as a prognostic indicator in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. VEGFR messenger RNA expression and promoter methylation were examined in a panel of cell lines via quantitative reverse transcription and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Promoter methylation was compared with clinical characteristics in 128 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma samples. The normalized methylation values for the VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 promoters tended to be higher in the tumour cell lines than in normal tonsil samples, whereas amounts of VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 messenger RNA were significantly higher. Methylation of the VEGFR1 promoter (p = 0.003; 66/128 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma samples, 52%) and VEGFR3 promoter (p = 0.043; 53/128 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma samples, 41%) significantly correlated with recurrence, whereas methylation of the VEGFR2 promoter significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.046; 47/128 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma samples, 37%). Concurrent methylation of the VEGFR1 and VEGFR3 promoters significantly correlated with reduced disease-free survival (log-rank test, p = 0.009). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, methylation of the VEGFR1, VEGFR3 and both the VEGFR1 and VEGFR3 promoters independently predicted recurrence (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals: 3.19, 1.51-6.75 (p = 0.002); 2.24, 1.06-4.76 (p = 0.035); and 2.56, 1.09-6.05 (p = 0.032), respectively). Methylation of the VEGFR promoters predicts poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Misawa
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Misawa
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hideya Kawasaki
- 2 Department of Regenerative and Infectious Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Atsushi Imai
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Daiki Mochizuki
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Ryuji Ishikawa
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Shiori Endo
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Masato Mima
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Takeharu Kanazawa
- 3 Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Toshihide Iwashita
- 2 Department of Regenerative and Infectious Pathology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mineta
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
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Brands RC, Knierim LM, De Donno F, Steinacker V, Hartmann S, Seher A, Kübler AC, Müller-Richter UDA. Targeting VEGFR and FGFR in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vitro. Oncol Rep 2017; 38:1877-1885. [PMID: 28714017 DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a tumor microenvironment (TME) that overexpresses vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), which can lead to neovascularization, tumor growth and metastasis. Therapeutic strategies inhibiting these signaling pathways might lead to innovative HNSCC treatments. Five HNSCC cell lines were characterized based on VEGFR1-3 and FGFR1-4 expression by sqRT-PCR and treated with three different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (nintedanib, dovitinib and pazopanib), all of which are effective against VEGFR and FGFR family members. Crystal violet assays were performed to analyze the effect of the treatments on cell growth (viability). Additionally, VEGFR1-3 and FGFR1-4 expression data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and statistical analyses were performed to investigate the receptor expression level in the different cell lines and the efficacy of the single-agent treatments. A correlation analysis was performed to quantify the degree of relationship between receptor expression and drug efficacy. With the exception of VEGFR2, the targeted receptors were expressed at different levels in all of the cell lines. The cell lines exhibited concentration-dependent responses with cell line-specific differences toward two of the three TKIs (nintedanib and dovitinib). Notably, all of the cell lines were resistant to pazopanib. TKIs have potential as therapeutic agents for HNSCC. Cell line-specific differences were observed in our in vitro experiments. The observed pazopanib resistance could be explained by receptor expression. Further investigation is required to determine TKI efficacy in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman C Brands
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Luise M Knierim
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Francesco De Donno
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Valentin Steinacker
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Hartmann
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Axel Seher
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander C Kübler
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Urs D A Müller-Richter
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
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Yanase M, Kato K, Yoshizawa K, Noguchi N, Kitahara H, Nakamura H. Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factors A and C in oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Oral Pathol Med 2014; 43:514-20. [PMID: 24762199 DOI: 10.1111/jop.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members play a major role in angiogenesis and vascularization. VEGF-A promotes tumor angiogenesis by stimulating the growth of tumor vascular endothelial cells. In addition, VEGF-C has been identified as a potent inducer of lymphangiogenesis in tumor and lymph node metastasis. Previous studies have investigated the association between clinicopathological factors and the expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in oral squamous cell carcinoma cancer (OSCC), but the results are contradictory. In this study, we investigated the relationship between VEGF-A and VEGF-C expression and OSCC clinicopathological factors and prognosis. METHODS Expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C was evaluated in surgical specimens from 61 patients with OSCC and three human oral cancer cell lines (OSC-19, OSC-20 and HOC313) by immunohistochemical staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also determined the relationship between the 5-year survival rate and clinicopathological factors, such as TNM classification (Union for International Cancer Control, UICC), lymph node metastasis, recurrence, histological differentiation, location, and mode of invasion. RESULTS VEGF-A expression correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, recurrence, and a poorer 5-year survival rate. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that VEGF-C is an independent prognostic factor for patients with OSCC. VEGF-C expression was significantly up-regulated in HOC313 cells compared to OSC-19 and OSC-20 cells. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that VEGF-C may be a predictive factor for OSCC outcome, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence. Moreover, VEGF-C may be an important factor in the development of new therapies for OSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Yanase
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Ishikawa, Japan
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Allen CT, Law JH, Dunn GP, Uppaluri R. Emerging insights into head and neck cancer metastasis. Head Neck 2012; 35:1669-78. [PMID: 23280716 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review was to provide biological concepts of head and neck cancer metastasis. To attain this goal, we analyzed peer-reviewed articles related to head and neck cancer metastasis obtained though PubMed and archived articles. Articles related to the biologic principles of head and neck cancer metastasis were reviewed and summarized. As locoregional control has improved for patients with head and neck cancer, rates of distant metastasis have not decreased. As patients live longer, many will die of complications related to the development of disease at sites below the clavicles. Emerging evidence now suggests a more complicated framework of metastatic behavior for head and neck cancer. Here, we review the role of regional lymph nodes in containing advanced head and neck cancer, evidence for active as opposed to passive tumor cell metastasis, and clinical implications these concepts have on both treatment of head and neck cancer and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint T Allen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Pentheroudakis G, Nicolaou I, Kotoula V, Fountzilas E, Markou K, Eleftheraki AG, Fragkoulidi A, Karasmanis I, Tsigka A, Angouridakis N, Vlachtsis K, Nikolaou A, Pavlidis N, Fountzilas G. Prognostic utility of angiogenesis and hypoxia effectors in patients with operable squamous cell cancer of the larynx. Oral Oncol 2012; 48:709-16. [PMID: 22366437 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 01/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is active in localised laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We assessed relative messenger RNA (mRNA) and immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF) A, B, C, their receptors VEGFR1, 2, 3, Neuropilins 1, 2 (NRP1, 2) and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1A (HIF1A) in paraffin-embedded localised laryngeal carcinomas. In 289 patients with T3-4 (77.8%), node-negative (84.1%) tumours of the larynx, high VEGFA and VEGFR1 mRNA correlated with advanced T stage, while low VEGFB and VEGFC mRNA with alcohol abuse and supraglottic primary, respectively (p<0.05). Age <55 was associated with high IHC expression of VEGFA, C and poor tumour differentiation with high IHC VEGFA. At a median follow-up of 74.5months, patients with VEGFR1-high tumours had significantly poorer disease-free survival (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.93, p=0.008) and shorter overall survival (OS, HR 1.71, p=0.041). An association with dismal OS was seen for high VEGFR3 tumoural mRNA expression (HR 1.76, p=0.02). IHC expression of VEGF family proteins in the tumour was not prognostic and had poor concordance with mRNA expression (kappa<0.1, p=NS). In multivariate analysis, node-positive status, non-supraglottic localization, high VEGFR1 mRNA and high IHC VEGFA expression were significantly associated with relapse, while node-positive status, high VEGFR1 and VEGFC mRNA expression in the tumour with risk of death. In laryngeal cancer, upregulated mRNA expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFC is associated with poor patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pentheroudakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ioannina University Hospital, Ioannina, Greece.
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Walk EL, Weed SA. Recently identified biomarkers that promote lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:747-72. [PMID: 24212639 PMCID: PMC3756388 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3010747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 02/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous cancer that arises in the upper aerodigestive tract. Despite advances in knowledge and treatment of this disease, the five-year survival rate after diagnosis of advanced (stage 3 and 4) HNSCC remains approximately 50%. One reason for the large degree of mortality associated with late stage HNSCC is the intrinsic ability of tumor cells to undergo locoregional invasion. Lymph nodes in the cervical region are the primary sites of metastasis for HNSCC, occurring before the formation of distant metastases. The presence of lymph node metastases is strongly associated with poor patient outcome, resulting in increased consideration being given to the development and implementation of anti-invasive strategies. In this review, we focus on select proteins that have been recently identified as promoters of lymph node metastasis in HNSCC. The discussed proteins are involved in a wide range of critical cellular functions, and offer a more comprehensive understanding of the factors involved in HNSCC metastasis while additionally providing increased options for consideration in the design of future therapeutic intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse L Walk
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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